Briefly In Public Safety

Man suspected of assault with hammer

An Azusa man reportedly attempted to assault someone with a hammer in the 31400 block of Coast Highway on Dec. 22.

Jorge Luis Frias, 44, was arrested on charges of assault with a deadly weapon and terrorist threats.

According to Laguna police Sgt. Louise Callus, police responded to a call of the incident around 8:39 a.m. at the Laguna Royale condominium complex.

Officers located the victim, who said that Frias, who worked at the complex, had cornered him in the elevator and tried to strike him in the head with a hammer, then pointed a screwdriver at him and threatened to kill him, Callus said.

The victim was able to escape when the doors opened, Callus said.

Frias would not speak with police and denied any involvement, police said.

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Family struck on sidewalk by car

A family of three was struck on a sidewalk by a vehicle at Nyes Place and South Coast Highway at 3:25 p.m. Monday.

The driver, a 90-year-old woman, was traveling northbound when she veered to the right and went on to the sidewalk.

The woman’s vehicle hit a parked car, which caused her car to be pushed to the right from the impact and hit the family.

“The three pedestrians were trauma patients with moderate injuries, and the driver of one of the vehicles had minor injuries,” Sgt. Louise Callus said.

The area became congested, and a Sig Alert was issued. It was cleared at 5:15 p.m.

Police did not have more information on the pedestrians or their injuries as of press time.

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Police arrest man trying to get in home

A woman reported a suspicious male in her home in the 400 block of Myrtle early Wednesday morning.

She called police at 1:53 a.m. to report that a man was banging on her door and she thought she heard him in her house.

Ted Alexander, of Irvine, was detained at gunpoint and arrested on alleged public intoxication. Police believe Alexander thought he was entering his Irvine home.

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Statues reported stolen at gallery

Schaar Gallery reported that valuable statues were stolen sometime between Sunday night and Monday morning.

According to police, the gallery reported that two statues valued at $3,050 were taken from the gallery’s front yard area.

—Joanna Clay